I retired in 1997 from the post of Chief Librarian at the Department for Education and Employment. I had worked in the Civil Service since I left school (1954) first as a temporary clerk for which I needed five O levels to be offered a post. I later became promoted to a permanent clerk and was fortunate in being given support to attend Library School. After acquiring my professional qualifications I returned to the Civil Service an assistant librarian. Four years later I was promoted to Librarian grade. I spent several years in a variety of posts in different Government departments and acquired a knowledge of information topics in the fields of aerospace and aviation, technology, fuel and power, nuclear science, building and architecture, statistics and market intelligence and education, I was promoted to senior librarian and spent time lecturing to Chambers of Commerce and I was an external lecturer at universities who ran business information courses. 

I was also on several national committees associated with business information.

I transferred to the Property Services Agency where I travelled the country inspecting sub libraries and ensuring they had the documents necessary to meet their user’s needs. I was also responsible for the financial control of the library service with a budget of £1 million. During this time I was sponsored by my government department and attended City University on a part time basis and gained an MSc degree. During this time I became acting Departmental Records Officer and held the official seal used when government owned properties were sold.

With the closure of the Property Services Agency I was offered the post of Chief Librarian at the Department for Education with the remit of taking the library through a privatisation programme. I did this and after making sweeping changes the library stayed in house. The work I undertook was used as a basis for other government libraries facing privatisation.

When the Department for Education merged with the Department of Employment I was appointed Chief Librarian and promoted. I was tasked with merging the two systems and achieved significant savings overall.

Reasonably important. I made friends at school and still keep in touch with them. I had a good, all round education and would have liked to go on to 6th form but it was not a financially viable option.

When I first went to work I had a good balance of life with many opportunities for socialising.

After I became professionally qualified I often worked a 10 hour day excluding travel to work. As I went up the career ladder I had little social life and, because of various home pressures, found that I needed to see a councillor for about 7 years. Any social functions I attended were usually work related.

Don’t make up your mind too soon. Try various options first.

Be true to yourself.

Take opportunities that exist – it’s never too late to find you perfect career.

Develop as wide as possible a portfolio of skills and interests and be prepared to use them flexibly as different employment opportunities present themselves

Be Machiavellian!!! If trying to get an action across, plant the idea in others minds first then praises them for coming up with a good solution. If you are a staff manager cultivate a listening ear and try to be aware of problems before they arise.

Think outside the box.

Be open to others ideas. 

Aim to do something credible